Snowmakers Reading Passage, Questions and Answers

In this article, we have given the solution for IELTS reading passage. Read this passage and try out the answers. Refer your answers with ours and correct for inaccuracies if any.

Solution Table

1.ix	2.iii	3.viii	4.i
5.vi	6.Compressed	7.(Tiny)Droplets	8.Ice Crystals
9.Depth	10.Temperature and Humidity	11.Energy	12.Insulation
13.Aircraft

Reading Passage

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Snow-Makers​

Skiing is a big business nowadays. But what can ski resort owners do if the snow doesn't come?

A.Ski slopes had become an extremely profitable business with the growing popularity of skiing in the early to mid-twentieth century. However, ski resort owners were completely dependent on the weather: if it didn't snow, or didn’t snow enough, they had to shut their businesses. Fortunately, snow can be produced whenever it's necessary through a gadget called the "snow gun." Such devices are now common in the great majority of ski resorts across the world, allowing many resorts to remain open for months, or even the whole year.

B.Snow originates from natural weather systems and arrives from water vapor in the atmosphere. The water vapor crystallizes into droplets, constructing clouds. If the temperature is sufficiently intense, the water droplets freeze into tiny ice crystals. More water particles then condense onto the crystal and unite with it to form a snowflake. As the snowflake grows heavier, it drops towards the Earth.

C.Although the snow gun works very differently from a natural weather system, it accomplishes exactly the same thing as the device basically works by merging water and air. Two multifarious hoses are attached to the gun. One leads from a water pumping station that pumps water up from a lake or reservoir, and the other leads from an air compressor. It atomizes the water whenever the consolidated air passes through the hose into the gun - that is, it disrupts the stream so that the water splits up into tiny droplets which are then bobbled out of the gun, and ice crystals will form if the outside temperature is below 0°C, which will make snowflakes in the same way as natural snow.

D.Snowmakers frequently refer to dry snow and wet snow. Dry snow contains relatively teensy water. And thus, it is extremely light and powdery. This type of snow is ideal for skiing because it is dry enough to prevent skis from becoming stuck in slush. One of the benefits of using a snow-maker is that powdery snow can be produced to create a level surface on ski slopes. However, resort owners also use denser and wetter snow thatthat is denser and wetter on heavily traveled slopes. Many resorts build snow depth in this manner once or twice a year, and then apply a layer of dry snow to the trails regularlya a regular basis throughout the winter.

E.The wettability of snow depends on the outside temperature and humidity as well as the size of the water droplets released by the gun. Snowmakers must regulate the amounts of water and air in their snow guns to produce snow with the ideal consistency for the outdoor climate. Numerous ski slopes now do this using a centralized computer system linked to weather-reading stations located around the slope.

F.However, artificial snow has a significant influence on the ecosystem. It takes around 275,000 liters of water to cover a 60-by-60-meter stretch with snow. Most resorts obtain their water from one or more reservoirs in low-lying regions. The runoff water from the slopes returns to these reservoirs, allowing the resort to reuse the same water several times. However, huge air-compressing pumps require substantial energy, and the diesel engines that power them contribute to air pollution.

G.Due to the expense of generating snow, ski resorts must weigh the cost of running the machines against the benefits of prolonging the ski season, ensuring that they only manufacture snow when it is indispensable and when the investment will provide the greatest return. However, artificial snow has a variety of other applications. A coating of snow prevents much of the Earth's heat from escaping into space, so farmers frequently employ artificial snow to insulate winter crops. Snow-making devices have played a significant role in several film projects. Typically, it takes many months to film scenes that span only a few days. If the film is set in a snowy environment, the set designers must obtain the proper amount of snow for each day of filming by adding artificial snow or melting real snow. And another significant usage of artificial snow is in testing airplanes to verify that they can operate safely in harsh situations.

Questions

Questions 1-5

This reading passage has seven paragraphs, A-G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number (i-x) in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet.

Example           Answer
Paragraph A       v
Paragraph B       x

1.Paragraph C
2.Paragraph D
3.Paragraph E
4.Paragraph F
5.Paragraph G

List of headings
I.Considering environmental costs
II.Modifications to the snow gun's design
III.The requirements for different types of snow
IVLocal concern regarding environmental concerns
V.A problem and a remedy
VI.Applications outside of ski resorts
VII.Changing moist snow to dry snow
IX.A unique method for determining adjustments
X.The artificial procedure, natural substance
Creation of snow in nature

Questions 6-8

Label the diagram below.
Choose no more than two words from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 6-8 on your answer sheet.

Questions 9-13

Complete the sentences below.
For each answer, choose no more than three words from the passage.
Write your answers in boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet.

9.Dry snow is utilized to provide a level surface on slopes, whereas wet snow is used to boost _______ on heavily traveled slopes.
10.Before calculating the required snow consistency, the atmospheric _____ must be measured.
11.Snowmaking technology requires a great deal of _____, which is detrimental to the environment.
12.Artificial snow is used as a sort of ______ for plants in cold climates.
13.Artificial snow can also be utilized for safety checks on _____.

Answers with Explanations

1.Answer: ix. Artificial process, natural product

Explanation: As per the parenthesis, a snow gun is applied. It operates differently from a natural weather system but achieves the same result. Therefore, the solution of the artificial method, a natural product is right.

2.Answer: iii. The need for different varieties of snow

Explanation: This paragraph highlights the varied applications of various types of snow. One of the benefits of employing a snow-maker is that powdery snow may be created to provide a flat surface on ski slopes.However, resort owners also use thicker and wetter snow on more used slopes.

3.Answer: viii. A new method for calculating modifications

Explanation: As per the paragraph, there are several approaches for calculating snow's alterations or changes. Numerous ski slopes now do this using a centralized computer system linked to weather-reading stations located around the slope. This is also a measuring procedure.

4.Answer: i. Considering ecological costs

Explanation: The passage discusses environmental expenses. It is stated that diesel engines contribute to air pollution. Consideration of ecological consequences is therefore the proper response.

5.Answer: vi. Applications beyond the ski slopes

Explanation: The paragraph discusses applications of snow that extend beyond ski slopes. Consequently, applications outside the ski slopes constitute the proper response.

6.Answer: Compressed

Explanation: According to the passage, as pressurized air flows through the hose, it atomizes the water into small droplets. Droplets are seen in the photograph.

7.Answer: (tiny) droplets

Explanation: The passage says that when pressurized air goes through the hose, it atomizes the water into small droplets. The image displays the droplets.

8.Answer: ice crystals

Explanation: The passage says that when compressed air passes through the hose, it atomizes water into tiny droplets. When these come out of the gun, when the temperature is 0 degrees, they form ice crystals.

9.Answer: depth

Explanation: According to the text, on heavily used slopes, resort operators also employ wetter, denser snow beneath the dry snow. In this manner, depth is achieved.

10.Answer: temperature and humidity

Explanation: Before calculating the required snow consistency, the paragraph states that the atmosphere's temperature and relative humidity must be measured.

11.Answer: Energy

Explanation: According to the passage, snow prevents much of the Earth's heat from escaping into space. This is why farmers frequently employ artificial snow to insulate their winter crops.

12.Answer: insulation

Explanation: According to the passage, snow prevents much of the Earth's heat from escaping into space. This is why farmers frequently employ artificial snow to insulate their winter crops.

13.Answer: Aircraft

Explanation: According to the passage, another notable application of artificial snow is the testing of aircraft. It is used to guarantee that they can safely operate in hazardous settings.

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